The Fountain of Life Center in North Pattaya has been the target charity for the Jesters since 1998. The club was responsible for raising over 1 million baht for the Center that year with the Jesters 'Care 4 Kids'Charity Drive. Nearly 1.4 million was generated in 1999 with the inclusion of a Jesters Children's Fair at the Royal Cliff Beach Resort to augment the Pub Night at Delaney's a week later, and a whopping 2.2 million baht was amassed last year with both main events held at the Amari Orchid Resort in north Pattaya. Please refer to the Pattaya Mail, Vol.VII, No. 37, 10 September 1999, "What a Success!" and Vol.VII, No. 38, 17 September 1999, "Pattaya, You Did It Again".
The Good Shepherd Sisters have run the Center since 1993 to provide the children of the slums in Pattaya with a modicum of education. (Note: The Sisters also run the Fountain of Life Center Two on Soi Buakaow, which has been open much longer and is for the education and job training of adult females). The children, who attend Center One are often born in these impoverished areas without documentation necessary to attend public institutions. However, even with proper birth certificates, the majority of these children’s families would not be able to afford the tuition required for schools anyway.
Every weekday the staff from the Center go into the outlying areas where the children are living to pick them up in front of their dwellings. The trips, which used to take 2 hours each way to go around and collect the kids, return to the Center, and then take them back in the afternoon, is now a bit quicker due to additional vehicles having become available since the outset of the Jester Charity Drives.
The children, who range largely between the ages of 3 to 7, though there are also those older, are given a rudimentary education in preparation for a more formal one, many of whom may be fortunate to do so through scholarships. Besides a basic education, the children learn social skills and are given opportunities to express themselves through art and music. Hot meals, time for play and sleep, as well as plenty of love and care, are also provided. (Note: The older kids now get computer training at Center Two.)
During the Jesters initial drive, they constructed an additional classroom adjoining the existing structure, donated a third vehicle to facilitate transporting the 100+kids, replaced the roof over the kitchen, and made many structural and electrical repairs to the main building. The club also established a trust fund for the Center from monies raised from corporate and individual sponsorship, the sponsored cycle ride, as well as raffle ticket and auction sales to help cover operational costs.
The two main events from last year's 3rd Annual Charity Care 4 Kids Drive were held entirely at the Amari Orchid Resort. The Children's Fair was sited in the lush gardens of the hotel opposite the beach, while the Pub Night took place next door at Henry J. Bean's. Thanks to the proceeds from the Fair, the Sponsored Cycle Ride , the Pub Night, the large donation box at Tesco/Lotus and the generous corporate sponsorship led by Chonburi/Siam Steel Mill Services, our platinum sponsor, over 2 million baht was raiesed this year.
As the Fountain of Life has been thriving without a mainline benefactor, prior to the club’s charity drive last year, the Jesters feel compelled to stay the course and make the event a yearly one.
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For more information about the Fountain of Life, please refer to articles listed below in the Pattaya Mail archives. Presently, they have a Web Page under construction. One may also visit the center on Soi Sri Nakorn, across from the Regent Marina Hotel. Point of contact is Sister Joan or Sister Jiemjit, who are glad to welcome all visitors. They can be contacted at +66 38 424 173 or +66 38 361 540.
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" Jester's Pub Night a Hoot", Vol. VIII, No. 39, 29 September 2000
"Jester's Children's Fair Raffle Raises Record Sum", Vol. VIII, No. 39, 29 Sept 2000.
"Thousands Enjoy 2nd Jesters Children's Fair", Vol. VIII, No. 38, 22 September 2000.
Below are other club charity-related events. Included are articles and photos about the Jesters’ anniversary parties that also benefited the Banglamung Boys’ Home.
Edited 22-05-2005